Amusement apparatus.



P.v E. MAYNARD.- AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l', 1911. 1,082,699. Patented 1360.30, 1913.

m Qwmm K@ m ...kwwmmwl w E H m M NM; uw 4. kr. Y .KR N V 1 Q\w J 2 f A mm No o mw) COLUMNA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsHlNuToN. DA c.

F. E. MAYNARD.

AMUSBMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 1, 1911.

1,082,699. Patented'Deo. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Co.. WASHINGTON D c UNTED STATES PATENT OFFTC.

FREDERICK E. MAYNARID, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

AIVIUSEMENT APPARATUS.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. MAY- NARD, citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparat-us, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention relates to amusement apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the innocent amusement-of people which will be safe and attractive; to provide an amusement device susceptible of a great variety of artistic, scenic and ludicrous effects; and which may be designed with educational features.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide an lamusement structure of such character that it may be very easily and quickly erected and dismantled, is light and inexpensive and collapsible so thatit may be transported in light vehicles for short hauls as from town to town in sparsely settled country.

An important function of the invention is to evolve a mirth provokino` apparatus or device comprising a resi ient, suitably shaped platform upon which persons may attempt to climb or walk, and which may be designed with obstacles impeding progress and may have portions facilitating the pedestrian in his movements over the platform.

A further oflice of the conception is to afford a platform rendered elastic and safe Vby air, with suitable means for sustaining the desired pressure, instrumentalities being provided to make the operation of said means automatic.

A primary object of my invent-ion is to produce a structure which while aording great amusement to a large number of onlookers and exercise to participants at the same time will be so supported and constructed as to eliminate, to the greatest possible extent, danger or injury to pleasure seekers.

Purposes designed for ediiication and special features will be made manifest.

The invention consists of the whole; the construction; the combination of parts, and in details of construction.

Figure l is a cent-ral, vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the platform. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe base.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application :filed June 1, 1911.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913. serial No. 630,612.

Fig. L is a detail of the plat-form. Fig. 5 1s a detail of a cushion.

The illustrated conception of my invention embodies a platform -2- having a surface the whole or parts of which are rendered resilient and over which persons may move in an attempt to reach a certain portion or to pass from place to place. The word platform is used in this specification to designate that portion of the apparatus upon which persons may move. The platform -2- may be erected upon any appropriate base and in the embodiment the base is indicated as a flexible, resilient ioor or structure *3- which may be appropriately attached to a mount, frame, or suitable support -4.-. The frame -4- may be supplied with seats or benches -5- and may have a form of cover or roof -6- to protect the platform -2- and which will shelter the merrymakers.

The merriment of players and onlookers may be enhanced by giving the platform grotesque, ludicrous or fanciful shapes, and the platform may be made of educational nterest and value by shaping it in geologic, geometric or animal form. For the purpose of making movements of persons comical and tedious I prefer to make the platform of a pliable material which may be subst-antially air-tight and to build it so that it can be inflated.

In Fig. 1, is shown a hollow platform having an upper conical surface and a lower substantially flat surface or bottom which may be supported on the base *2S- For the reason that all flexible, hollow bodies, when infiated or subjected to internal pressure, tend to assume a spherical shape, design the material, of which the expansible platform is made, to produce a shape approximate the particular form desired and define the shape by limiting the expansibility spherically. This is accomplished by attaching tension members 7- of suitable design at numerous places within the platform and extending them from surface to surface so that when the hollow platform -2- is inflated and distended the tension members -7 become taut and limit the distention of the expanded platform. Manifestly the tension members may be omitted and the material forming the platform so cut and joined as to produce divers forms.

The expansible platform -2- may be in- .1 10

flated: byV fluid, as air, underepressure'from a suitable source here indicated as a receptacle 8 into which 'air'may be charged at a suitable pressure by a compressor -9-.

The degree of pressure in the resilient cush! ion or platform -2- is controlled by a re-4 ducing valve L10-mounted ina supply conductor -llconnecting the receptacle -8- to the platform -`2-.

An operator or attendant may be made unnecessary by providing a suitable mechanism` 'ln order to close the switch -15- whenv he air in the receptacle -`S- falls below' agiven pressure the switch-1s connected'to aI i suitable loperating device. :The switch 15e-is actuated'by` a connection 1Q- with device orplunger @20-sensitive: to variations of pressure vin the reservoir S- andwhen pressure in thelatter falls toA a given vdegree the' switch -l5- will be operatedl to close theinotorj circuit. WVhen the reservoir is again broughtto'pressure desired the switch is automatically thrown out,

lfronrtheforegoing it will be seen that when the platform is pneumatically inflated to a Idesired pressure'a personmay move 'over its upper lsurfacewfith ease 'or difficulty determined 'by the conformation, the nature of material of which theA platform is made and the 'agility and' eXpertness of the climber. The resiliency of the :flexible or pliable platform *.vill' cause a constant bobbingup and down at each step, sometimes throwing one down in which event he will roll `or tumble down the side' of thesoft platform to 'its edge'aroundwhich:may be formed or laida bedding or soft buffer as --21d against which he will stop without injury. T he hi` larity caused b y such ludicrous positions and surprising antics is greatly increased by forming, at suitableV vplaces on the. platform, p'rotuberances 'or :obstructions as Q2- and when the 'platform is mountainous in outline a 'depression as Q3- may beformed representative of a crater.

Any person 'succeeding in scaling the slopes will then 'be able to rest upon the rim of the crater or if wishing may enter it. The climaxr of theamusement Vis obtained byv suddenly admitting a` volume of air into ai space between a false bottom 424 of the crater and a realv bottom Q5-J so that the false bottom will: rise from the 'depression 23- and erupt such persons as may have entered. AThe eruption of the crater is accomplished by conducting -to the real'bottom a tube 426 through which the passage of air may be controlled by a suitable valve -27-- Thetube 2G-'being connected to a source of supply as reservoir -8-, when 'aperson enters the crater S23- an opera- `tor may suddenly move the valve to permit ai1',-underpressure, to iow into the crater structure and the false bottom #24T- will expand to a convex shape above the crater rim dislodging the occupants. The operator lthen turns the valve to cut off' pressure and "terial designed to offer friction or foot-hold so'vthatpersons 'may be pitted againstY each other' in rac-es up the slope.

'A very important feature of thel present vinvention is the provision of some safety appliance to iiisure"against injury to4 persons in the event' that the pneumatic platform `should be punctured thus allowing the pery'sons' tolbeprecipitated to the plane ofthe 1base or supportupon which the platform -may be erected, This safety appliance comprises a yieldable connection between the lower edge of the platform or the base "3M and the frame "In the illustrated embodiment the base -3-" is attached by links #8'2- to the sua ortin' means orframe D -et-. Thelinks 29- extendfthrough sleeves 493 threaded and movable in bushings El-mounted 'at appropriate The outer v ends of the links 432- are threaded as at to receive nuts #3G-4 between which and the'adjacent ends of the sleeves 33 are placed cushioning devices, as springs Sil- The deflated platform is placed 4in .positioni u'pon a' support suchas the ground or, as shown, upon the base -3- which i may be inv the form `of a net,'l l`ig. i3-f attached 'to thesupporting frame -4-. The

oryield4 by reason of its cushion Vlike convnectioir'witlr the supporting frame -fl-.

The struct-ure isa safe, unique, inexpensive, easily assembled and ported apparatus; Ycan bel operatedatsmall'cost and requires vno skilful attendant.

The `platform r2-'may be provided with suitable means for detachably securing it to itsrsupporting base, this means comprising inthe present instance lengths of rope or lashings '-38.

When desired any devices for the creation of rumbling, low-toned or other suitable sound may be connected, as convenient,`to the apparatus, a Whistle being indicated at The drawing shows that a device as -39- may be connected in pipe -26- so that sounds may be produced by air passing, and another appropriate sound-producing device -fl0- may be placed in the serpents mouth in the structure, the device being designed to simulate sounds made by the object that the adjacent formation of the structure may represent.

lt is understood that the platform may be made of any appropriate material coated or made to be sufficiently tight to sustain the desired pressure; may be decorated, shaped, illuminated or mounted as circumstances and desire permit,and any alterations, variations, substitut-ions, modifications in Whole or in part may be made Within the scope of the claims.

TWhat l claim is:

l. in amusement apparatus comprising a platform having a portion deflatable and distensible independently of the main body, and means for inflating said portion to dislodge occupant-s thereon.

L). rin amusement apparatus comprising a suitably shaped, yieldable platform, and an eruptive floor thereon.

3. .an amusement apparatus comprising a suitably shaped yieldable platform, and help-ropes attached thereto.

t. fin amusement apparatus comprising a suitably shaped inflatable platform, and help-ropes attached thereto.

5. An amusement apparatus comprising a cushion having various configurations in its surface, and escape ropes attached to the cushion.

t3. Au amusement apparatus comprising a platform havingv various configurations in its surface, and escape-ropes and help-ropes attached thereto.

7. An amusement apparatus comprising a platform having an inclined surface a part of Which is adapted to be projected relative to the other.

8. A mountain-shaped platform having a crater-like depression and an eruptive floor in the depression.

9. A suitably shaped platform, paths upon the surface thereof, and an eruptive area cn the platform.

l0. As an amusement apparatus, a suspended, pneumatic platform adapted to support persons.

ll. A n amusement apparatus including a pneumatic cushion, charging mechanism therefor and means for suspending` it in an elevated position.

l2. .ln an amusement apparatus, the combination with a stationary support, of an elevated base thereon, and a flexible, resilient platform on said base, said platform having an eruptive area.

13. The combination in an amusement apparatus, of an elevated base, and an inflatable platform thereon, and inflating means therefor.

le. An amusement device comprising a substantially air-tight, iniiatable cushion having a conical shape.

l5. rlf'he combination in an amusement apparatus, of an elevated, resilient base, and an inflatable cushion thereon, and means for temporarily securing the same together.

1G. rlhe combination in an amusement apparatus, of an elevated, flexible base, and an inatable cushion removably attached thereto.

l?. rlhe combination in an amusement apparatus, of an elevated, flexible base, and an inflatable platform thereon, said base forming a life-guard to which the platform is detachably secured.

18. amusement apparatus comprising collapsible, inflatable structure having a suitable surface ivith areas of various configurations, and appropriate supports for said structure.

19. ,an amusement apparatus comprising 1latform, the exterior surface of Which is adapted to be distended by pneumatic pressure.

20. An amusement apparatus comprising a platform pneumatically distended and haif'ing a portion deflatable and distensible independently of the main body.

2l. ein amusement apparatus including in inliatable platform, `means for ini'iating said platform, and connections therebetween.

22h11 amusement apparatus including` an intiatable platform, means for inliating said platform, and instrumentalities for automatically starting the operation of said means.

An amusement apparatus including a platform pneumatically distended and having a portion deatable and distensible independently of the main body, and means for controlling the distention and deflation of the main body.

9.4. An amusement apparatus including a platform pneumatically distended and having a portion deatable and distensible independently of the main body, means for controlling the distention and deflation of said portion, and a charging .mechanism- 25. An amusement apparatus including a platform pneumatically inflatable and having a portion deflatable and distensible independently of the main body, means for controlling the distention and deflation of the platform, and charging mechanism automatically operative when pressure falls below a certain degree.

26. An amusement apparatus including CAB pressure controlling connections therebetvveen.

2S. in amusement device including` anl expansible cushion, a resilient base therefor, and compressed air mechanism connected to the cushion.

29. An amusement I device including an eXpans-ible cushion, a resilient base therefor, compressed air mechanism, and means for controlling` the flow of air from said mechanism to the cushion.

30. An amusement device including an expansible cushion, a resilient base therefor, compressed air mechanism, means controlling the 'flou' of air from said mechanism to the cushion, and air compressing` apparatus connected to said mechanism.

31. een .amusement Vdevice including` an expansilile cushion, a compressed air mechanism, means controlling the flovv of air from said mechanism to the cushion, and a starting` apparatus for said mechanism.

3Q. :in amusement device comprising a pliable platform having a bearing surface and a plurality of separate chambers.

in amusement device comprising a pliable platform havingl a plurality of chambers adapted to be pneumatically inflater.

'34. in amusement device comprising a pliable platform, and means to restrain the distcntion and define the shape of the platform when infiated.

Iliin; amusement device comprising a pneumatic platform having an irregular bearingl surface, and a false cover.

3G. ein inflatable, collapsible amusement apparatus of suitable form, decorations on the surface thereof, andan appropriate support therefor.

A suitably shaped platform, paths thereon, help ropes attached thereto, and an eruptiif'e flooring' on the platform.

38. il suitably shaped platform, paths thereoiuhelp ropes attached thereto, an

.eruptive 'flooring on the-platform, and esicape ropes.

'39. An inflatable apparatus of configuration representative of various objects, `sou11d-producing` devices arranged in the apparatus to produce representative sounds, and an appropriate support for the apparatus.

40. nu amusement apparatus including lanrii; atablc, collapsible cushion having in- Lcline'd areas,` a'base for the same, and a bufler.

A collapsible, Vdemountalole, portable apparatus adapted to be inflated andhavzing parts of representative shape, a supportling structure therefor, and means for ini Hating the apparatus.

An amusement apparatus comprising a platform, an inflatable floor, and a soundproducing` device adapted to emit sounds as the floor is inflated.

'48. An amusement apparatus comprising an inflatable platforim sound-producing deivioes, and means for infiating said platform and operating said devices.

An amusement apparatus comprising an inflatable platform, sound producing means, mechanism for inflating said platformand operating1 said means, a floor portion of the platform capable of being independently inflated, and sound producing means operable lwhen said portion is inlliate'd.

e3. An amusement device comprising an inflatable structure'having an appropriate vsurface with variously shaped projecting areas.

4G. an amusement device comprising an inflatable structure having,- an appropriate surface, and a buffer at its base.

An amusement structure comprising,` an observation stand, and a resilient cushioningv platform supported thereby.

'In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERCK E. MAYNARD.

Titnesses JOHN H. Humaine, ZETA HAsTINGs.

Copies 'oi' Vthis patentmay he obtained.` for five cents each, by vaddressing the Commissioner of latencz, Washington, D. C. 

